Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC Takes Position in Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO)

Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO - Free Report) during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 521,007 shares of the oil and gas company's stock, valued at approximately $70,352,000. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC owned about 0.16% of Valero Energy at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. EdgeRock Capital LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy in the second quarter worth about $27,000. Summit Securities Group LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy in the second quarter worth $31,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the third quarter valued at $28,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA acquired a new stake in Valero Energy during the third quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, Triad Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in Valero Energy in the second quarter worth about $39,000. 78.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Valero Energy Price Performance

NYSE:VLO traded down $1.53 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $131.52. 1,979,713 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,914,092. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $137.07 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $144.70. The company has a current ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The company has a market capitalization of $41.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.80, a P/E/G ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 1.39. Valero Energy Co. has a one year low of $120.21 and a one year high of $184.79.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The oil and gas company reported $1.14 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.98 by $0.16. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 13.07% and a net margin of 2.74%. The company had revenue of $32.88 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $31.04 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $7.49 EPS. The company's quarterly revenue was down 14.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts predict that Valero Energy Co. will post 8.92 EPS for the current year.

Valero Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 20th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 20th will be given a dividend of $1.07 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 20th. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.25%. Valero Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 38.39%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

VLO has been the topic of a number of research reports. TD Cowen dropped their price target on Valero Energy from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Barclays dropped their target price on Valero Energy from $146.00 to $140.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Mizuho lowered their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $175.00 to $171.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, September 16th. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Valero Energy from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $172.00 to $165.00 in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Valero Energy from $172.00 to $151.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $155.86.

Valero Energy Company Profile

Valero Energy Corporation manufactures, markets, and sells petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Latin America, Mexico, Peru, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol.